MISSING CLASSMATES

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Welcome to the Minneapolis Roosevelt Senior High Class of 1959 Website

Our "60th" Reunion--September 2019

Our reunion committee met in September 2018 to begin planning for our "60th" Reunion in September 2019. We are coordinating it with the Roosevelt Foundation Golf Tournament which will be held on, Friday, September 20th, 2019. Our dinner will be September 21st at the Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport Hilton and a pizza party will be held on Sunday, the 22nd. At the end of the week of May 20th, you should receive the mailing with all the details. If you do not receive your registration information in the mail by June 5th, please let me know, and we will send another one.

We look forward to seeing all of you in September 2019!!

Seventh Annual Foundation Golf Tournament

This year's golf tournament will be held on Friday, September 20th, 2019, at the Crystal Lake Golf Course, Lakeville, MN, with a 12:00 Noon Shotgun Start. Register early since last year they had the maximum golfers the course could hold.

My, oh, my, this will look so familiar to all! Such fun as we remember our youth! You should be able to just click on the address. If that doesn't work, cut and paste, or type into your browser--there are two parts to watch: http://biggeekdad.com/2013/01/the-best-of-times/

To Brighten Your Day!

Please type this in your browser, or copy and paste it: https://www.facebook.com/cohmedy/videos/2218040515137541/

Hopefully, you will laugh outloud! Now they know how seniors feel when they try their new phones!

The Chickadee Song

Do you remember singing the "Chickadee Song" during our grade school days?? As I work in my yard and listen to the chickadees, I am always reminded of singing this little song at Howe Grade School. It's rhythm is exactly as that little bird sings it! I am certain I was oblivious to that when we were singing it, oh, so many years ago!

"Chickadee, dee, dee, dee

In the Evergreen tree

I'm calling, I'm calling

Chickadee, dee, dee, dee."

Wishing the Class of '59 a Warm and

Beautiful Spring!

RHS-Arizona Reunion Luncheon 2019

Another delicious lunch was enjoyed by our '59 classmates in Phoenix this year. We were blessed to have Roland Willits as our guest speaker on February 19th, despite the death of his beloved wife on February 14th. Again our classmates turned out to be one of the largest groups, tying with the Class of '60. In attendance were: Sharon Thor Basovsky, Dutch Fischer, Laurel Beaudoin Long, Janis Fletcher Obinger, Tom Obinger, Barbara Adams Pinski, Dave Steenson, Patti Bluml Timmons, Roland Willits and Douglas Zubick. Photos are posted under "Arizona Reunions"!

Bill Nelson shares a video of one of his work projects:

Here is the website address: http://www.mnvideovault.org/program_titles.php?letter=P Type the address into your web browser. Once you are on the website, select: "Prostitution: Beyond the Myths".

This is a Public Televsion program describing the program that Bill was so actively involved in as the Director of Correctional Services, Volunteers of America. You will see him speaking at various times throughout the video. Another of our classmates contributing to the betterment of our society!

Have you moved, changed your phone number or e-mail address?

Please let me know if you have changes to any of the above! I am preparing for our 2019 Reunion mailing and want to get the invitations to the correct address. You can call or text me at: 206-550-1039; e-mail me at: patti_lt@hotmail.com; or go to your "Profile" on this website to make the changes. Thanks so much!!

On October 11, 2018, the University of Minnesota College of Biological Sciences (CBS) honored one of its own—eminent immunologist Ronald Faanes, PhD—at the College’s annual Recognition and Appreciation Dinner at Memorial Hall in the McNamara Alumni Center. Dr. Faanes, who received his BS (chemistry) and PhD (microbiology) from U Minnesota, was the keynote speaker at this year’s dinner, which drew a crowd of 300 donors, faculty, and student scholarship winners. Ron was introduced by CBS Dean Dr. Valery Forbes (https://cbs.umn.edu/contacts/valery-forbes), who noted that as a pupil and mentee of longtime CBS faculty member Dr. Palmer Rogers, “Ron brings a wealth of insight, and some really great stories, about the revered scientist and teacher for whom the Palmer Rogers Microbiology Scholar ship is named.” Some of Dr. Rogers family were in the audience and they could not help being moved by the poignant memories of Palmer that Ron would recount in his address. Ron, who had also played hockey for the Gophers, had moved on from U Minnesota to work first as a tumor immunologist at the Sloan-Kettering Institute, the research arm of the renowned Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, in New York. Legendary U Minnesota physician/scientist Dr. Robert Good, who had led the team that performed the world’s first successful human bone marrow transplant between persons who were not identical twins and is regarded as a founder of modern immunology, had just been named Director of Sloan-Kettering and he brought many of his best scientists, including Ron, along with him to New York.

Already, in graduate school in Palmer’s lab, Ron had shown the scientific talent and instinct that ultimately would take him to the top of the scientific world. He did experiments that demonstrated the existence of the key information molecule, messenger RNA (mRNA). The existence of such a molecule, which could transfer information from the DNA code to the protein-producing machinery, had been hypothesized, but its existence had never been rigorously proven. Ron’s experiments proved this. However, in the highly competitive world of science, similar work in a different model system by an already well-known scientist, Sydney Brenner, was widely credited as the work that proved the existence of mRNA. Brenner went on to win the Nobel Prize for this work and other towering scientific accomplishments. But on mRNA, U Minnesota grad student Ron Faanes had been right there with him.

Ron went on to other major accomplishments in his long scientific career, including being one of the first labs to demonstrate the process of T-cell killing, which is now at the foundation of recent advances in cancer immunotherapy. After Sloan-Kettering, Ron moved on to global pharmaceutical giant Boehringer-Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, where he became Head of Immunology and worked for 22 years. He retired in 2003 and spends his time these days, Dr. Forbes said, building large radio-controlled model airplanes, playing a little golf, and helping his wife of 55 years, Sharon, who is a retired nurse and U Minnesota Duluth alum, with her many volunteer activities in the community. Ron also helps organize a senior charity hockey tournament, which he founded 10 years ago, in order to raise money for important health causes, including diabetes.

Dr. Forbes said that “As Ron will tell you tonight, he was not always the most likely candidate for such an illustrious academic and scientific career. His story is one of inspiration for all of us who have struggled—just a bit or maybe even quite a lot—to find their place in the world.”

Dr, Forbes also included a quote from BioQuick Editor & Publisher Mike O’Neill, who had done his college senior thesis work in Ron’s Sloan-Kettering lab in 1975-76, and who was in the audience at this event honoring his early mentor and life-long friend.

“My year in Ron’s lab changed my life and afforded me the great experience of working closely with a truly great scientist and also one of the very finest human beings I have met. In the lab, Ron was a great and enthusiastic teacher, who was infinitely curious, hard-working and brilliantly insightful. He was unselfishly dedicated to advancing the skills and knowledge of the students in his lab and would go out of his way to guide us in the right direction. The University of Minnesota can be quite proud of the brilliant scientist and even finer human being who started out many years ago as a young Golden Gopher and today is coming home.”

With that, Dr. Forbes welcomed Ron to the podium to give his address.

In his talk, Ron showed his characteristic modesty and sense of humor, and only indirectly hinted at the tremendous natural gifts, that, together with very hard work, carried him from U Minnesota to the pinnacles of world-class science.

Ron said that the evening is “a night to acknowledge the great generosity of so many donors to the Palmer Rogers Scholarship. As one of the donors (and a six-year student in the Rogers lab), I’ve been asked to share my story with you.” And what a story it was.

Ron began by saying, “I’m going to tell you a little bit about my tenure here at the University and tell you about the six years I spent with a great role model, Palmer Rogers, and the faculty of the Department of Microbiology. Also, I’m going to offer you some thoughts about the significance of those two impressive forces – the University and Palmer – in my own life and career.”

Ron began with a description of his early academic days that did not augur well for a bright scientific future.

“As Valery mentioned, I was not the most likely candidate for an academic and scientific career. In fact, anyone looking at my early college performance would be surprised to see where I’ve ended up. A large part of the credit for what has happened in my life results from the 14 years I spent on this campus, and the great faculty it was my privilege to train with.”

“I’m a Minnesota native who grew up in South Minneapolis and graduated from Roosevelt High School. I’ll be honest--I was an enthusiastic multi-sport high school athlete, but a terrible high school student. My high school grades didn’t reflect it, but I loved chemistry, math, and public health.”

Words of praise for this story about the South Minneapolis of our youth from Doug Butler: "I recommend this book as it was written by a '57 RHS grad recalling his childhood memories(and ours) growing up in south MPLS. Check it out."

Hank Gallagher gave a presentation of his book at the Arizona-RHS Luncheon in February 2018--so much fun listening to our history. After re-reading my copy--it brought back so many memories. I think we could all add additional escapades of our own!!

Another book about life in the Twin Cities a bit before "our days"!

From Stanley Gordon West’s novel, Growing an Inch (page 62):

“It’s funny how I hear my boyhood sometimes. It comes to me out of darkness on puppy dog paws and the taste of jaw-breakers. It tiptoes out of quiet moments in knotted high-top tennis shoes and corduroy knickers. It wings on the call of a crow or the smell of pine, sunlight reflecting off a lake. It won’t lie down; it won’t let me forget.

“I hear my boyhood sometimes like a chum calling me to come out and play. It tells me to remember, to speak of moments that flew away, that are flying now out towards the stars, ripples across an unending sea. My boyhood tells me to remember those things, those times, to bring them back to earth. Say them out loud or write the words on paper, keep them from being lost out beyond the sun. But sometimes I don’t want to remember. I don’t want to write them down, I want to forget.

“My boyhood won’t relent. It paces somewhere behind my hearbeats; it won’t go away. It is unfinished. Remember, it tells me, remember. Write it down. It will happen again in the hearts of those who read. No one warned me how swiftly it would fly away. My boyhood comes to me and warns me, tells me it will be gone forever, as though it never happened.

“I hear my boyhood sometimes.”

Stanley Gordon West (1932 – 2015) grew up in St. Paul and attended St. Paul Central High School. He has written three fiction books about life during his high school years. You will find West's books a lovely trip down Memory Lane, with two of the books revolving around mysteries!

The following article and comment are from Bill Larson: "My fellow 'Teddies': I always wondered why we were referred to as "Teddies" and used the Teddy Bear as a logo. After reading the attached article today I have some understanding. I never liked being thought of as a soft 'teddy' bear. I wanted the original Roosevelt name of 'Roughrider'.But I have worked through this and am happy." (You will see additional information on the left-hand side of our Home Page under the heading "Teddy Roosevelt".)

Here is an abridged copy of the article from the Washington Post:

Teddy Roosevelt made a legend out of one of his vacations

Gillian Brockell, The Washington Post

Published 11:54 pm EDT, Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Back to Gallery

One of history's roughest and toughest presidents used to vacation. And one of those trips became so legendary, you probably know about it, even if you don't think you do.

In the fall of 1902, a year into his presidency, President Theodore Roosevelt headed to Mississippi for a bear-hunting vacation. There are only about 50 bears in the whole state these days, but, according to state park officials, in the early 1900s, Mississippi's dense hardwood forests and canebrakes were home to thousands. Hunting dogs would chase them out into the open, where hunters on horseback could take aim.

Newspapers breathlessly recounted his train ride to the wilderness and the roughness of the camp. "PRESIDENT IN CAMP; READY FOR BEARS," the New York Times wrote on Nov. 14:

"He was clad in hunting costume, riding trousers, heavy leather leggings, blue flannel shirt, corduroy coat, and wore brown slouch hat; around his waist was buckled his cartridge belt and at this side hung his ivory-handled hunting knife."

The next day, after hours of vigorous pursuit, Roosevelt still hadn't bagged a bear. A guide chased a small one into a thicket, then told Roosevelt to wait on the other side for the bear to come out. After some time, Roosevelt left for lunch. No sooner did he leave then the bear ran out of the thicket.

"Had they remained, the president would have had a shot," a Washington Post article chided.

The bear, exhausted, fought valiantly with hunting dogs before the guide clubbed it over the head and tied it to a tree. He summoned the president to take his shot. Roosevelt refused. By his measure, it was unsportsmanlike to shoot an injured and tethered animal. He urged an aide to put it out of its misery.

The rest of the hunt wasn't much better, perhaps caused by contingents of "insurgent" reporters hunting the president through the canebrakes and scaring away animals. After a few more days, Roosevelt gave up. "A string of trout the only trophy of the hunting party," the New York Times announced.

News of the hypermasculine president's vacation flop spurred Washington Post cartoonist Clifford Berryman to draw a cartoon of his refusal to shoot the small bear, which he shrunk further to cub size. It ran in newspapers across the country.

A Brooklyn, New York, shop owner saw the cartoon and had an idea for a new toy. He and his wife sewed a plush stuffed bear, and, with Roosevelt's permission, set it in a window display labeled "Teddy's bear." And thus, the teddy bear was born. It continues to be one of the most popular children's toys in the world, and it even has had a march composed in its honor.

Washington Post Cartoon from 1902.

Our Haus - Mike Gwiazdon

Sportsman & Ski Haus celebrates 50 years in business in the Flathead Valley

More people, more houses, more of the modern world continuing its encroaching march on wild places; in 1968, there weren’t yet 40,000 people in Flathead County, compared to about 100,000 estimated living here now.

But as important as it is to keep track of the changes, it’s also key to note what hasn’t changed in all that time: a love for the outdoors, the desire to be in and near nature, and the need to be properly outfitted for such adventures.

And for half a century, folks in the Flathead have been able to turn to Sportsman & Ski Haus, a local powerhouse for outdoor essentials that celebrates 50 years in business in 2018.

“One of the reasons we built this store is because of the community supporting us,” Sportsman & Ski Haus President Mike Gwiazdon said last week. “We’re a big part of the community, and that’s important.”

Gwiazdon said this from his office in Sportsman’s Kalispell store, an 80,000-square-foot behemoth full of the latest and greatest gear and clothing for outdoor adventures on land and water (and air, according to a display tent that can hang in the trees).

But he knows the store wasn’t always this prominent or large. Sometime around 1964, the Sportsman Surplus store popped up in Kalispell, at the junction near U.S. Highways 2 and 93. In 1968, Mel James and Don Burks purchased Sportsman’s, which at that time measured 40 feet by 90 feet. After buying the shop, Burks and James built a 260-square-foot addition for the ski department, officially renaming the shop Sportsman & Ski Haus.

In 1973, Gwiazdon came on board as the ski haus manager, after five years as the equipment and rental manager on Big Mountain. Gwiazdon was the manager for six or seven years before Burks and James offered a partnership in the store, making him the merchandise manager.

In 2000, the original owners retired, and Gwiazdon became the president. Most importantly, the company became employee owned, and those who had been there long enough were able to buy into it.

That option made a big difference to some long-term employees who stayed on. Kyle Joos, who has been managing the store for 17 years, said the employee benefits at Sportsman make the staff feel cared for and important. Lorna Moore, who has been working at Sportsman for 33 years and who others refer to as “the backbone of the Whitefish store,” said there was always room to move up the ladder at the company, and that Sportsman invested in its own personnel.

“We all started in entry-level positions,” Moore said, looking at a group of nine employees who have been with the company for more than 20 years.

“It’s a unique attribute to this company,” Joos said.

The store grew in its original location, adding on over the years to eventually become 22,000 square feet. But it wasn’t enough. The store needed more space, and in 2005, the company made the decision to move from its home for 39 years to north of town in the Hutton Ranch development.

Lin Gwiazdon, who has worked at Sportsman for 38 years, was on staff for nine years before she became Mike Gwiazdon’s sister-in-law. She said the move to the current location was “emotional” after working for so long at the previous location.

“I was so emotional,” she said. “We couldn’t believe what we had built!”

The 55,000-square-foot store opened in 2007, and within six years Sportsman was expanding again, bringing the store to 80,000 square feet and adding more golfing experiences and an archery range.

In 2010, Sportsman’s acquired four Tri-State Outfitters stores in Washington and Idaho, growing the outdoor empire even more.

With 45 years at Sportsman under his belt, Gwiazdon has his eyes set on retirement at the end of June. He’ll still consult for a year, but this will be a big change for a man who has worked ever since he was a teen.

“I’ve been here 45 years, which is a long time,” he said. “I’ve never not worked in my whole life.”

As for his ascendency in the company, Gwiazdon said it came down to luck and hard work.

“I was in the right place at the right time, and I was always the hardest worker of anyone around me,” he said.

He was also passionate about the outdoors, which is a unifying trait among all the employees at Sportsman. Customers buying skis are buying from a salesperson who also skis and knows everything about the products. That personal touch is what sets the folks at Sportsman apart, he said.

“We’re sharing our passion,” said 23-year employee Dave Schmidt.

“We work with great people,” Joos said. “Our customers are amazing, and we sell fun stuff.”

For information about the Hall of Fame, contact Barbara Hanson Pederson at bpederson1@comcast.net, or check the Foundation website: www.roosevelthighfoundation.org.

Congratulations to this year's nominees!

RHS-Arizona Reunion - February 20, 2018:

Another successful luncheon gathering was held. Photos are posted under the heading "Arizona Reunions" in the left-hand column on our Home Page. We had ten from the Class of 1959. Attending from our class: Renae Bendik, Bob Blix, Patti Bluml, Dutch Fischer, Joel Hase, Jack Landstad, Diane Lindberg, Elly Nyberg, Sharon Thor and Doug Zubick. Unfortunately, Bob, Joel and Doug do not appear in any of the photos.

Make certain to read a copy of Stepping Around the Cowcatcher by Henry Gallagher, RHS '57. It is a fun read reminding us of our grade school and junior high days! The author, Henry Gallagher, was at the RHS-Arizona Reunion Luncheon February 20, 2018. A great presentation was enjoyed by all of those at the luncheon.

If any attendees have photos to share, please send them to me! Thanks so much!

At 95, Margaret Tjosvold continues to be a role model model for family, friends, colleagues and the community.

October 1, 2013

Born on Oct. 14,1918 in South Minneapolis, Margaret Tjosvold began her journey of care, compassion and cooking. Her mother, Rosa Camile Williams, was a nurse at Deaconess Hospital and went to people’s homes to care for them, providing massages and baths. Rosa grew up on a farm in Iowa and developed a love for the land, leading to her ownership of multiple properties over the years. She moved to one of those properties in the 1950s - a farm in Coon Rapids. At Rosa’s death, Margaret inherited six acres of that farm in Coon Rapids. It is now the main campus location for Mary T. Inc. Rosa greatly influenced Margaret’s values of caring for people with disabilities and the elderly, taking risks, remaining positive and sharing lots of good food!

Margaret married Dale Tjosvold and raised a family of three children - Dale Jr., Mary and Dean (with grandchildren Jason, Lena, Wesley and Coleen). She began a working career at JC Penny, becoming the first woman to manage the catalog department. Her career at JC Penny spanned 25 years, from 1951 to 1976, when she left and co-founded Camilia Rose Convalescent Center (now Camilia Rose Care Center) with her sister, Agnes Mallary, and her daughter Mary T. In addition, Margaret and Mary T. focused on Camilia Rose Group Home, which became the first business in the organization today known as Mary T. Inc. Their vision was for a campus that would include a children’s center, homes for people with developmental disabilities and a senior retirement center. That vision has expanded into the current configuration of Mary T. Inc. with services for people with disabilities, independent and assisted living for seniors, home health and hospice care, various types of rental housing, customized concierge services and assistive technology. MTI also serves people with brain injury in Maryland and seniors in a rental community in Casa Grande, Arizona.

Margaret continues to be the heart of Mary T. Inc. with her compassion, caring and concern for the people who are served. Each year Margaret cooks for 100 clients who attend camp at Bay View Lodge; purchases and wraps individual gifts for people in Mary T. Inc. homes and programs; and helps plan many parties, dances and dinners for the people Mary T. Inc. serves. In 2003, Margaret and Mary T. opened the Margaret Tjosvold Primary School in Santa, Bamenda, Cameroon. They continue to support the school with staff salaries, exam fees, books, clothes, supplies and a second school building. Their philanthropy in Cameroon has extended to the Heiffer Project, as well as supporting a VOSH (Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity) mission, providing eyeglasses to 3,500 people.

At 95 (now 99), Margaret serves as a role model for us all - philanthropy, compassion, care for the most vulnerable people in our community, spreading joy, a positive attitude and a continuing vision of a better world. We celebrate her 95 years and are grateful for her contributions to the lives she touches daily.

There were some great photos with the article, but I couldn't copy them! Margaret's daughter, Mary--Dale's sister--continues her mother's passion for helping others. Mary, too, was an RHS graduate. (Dale's father, Dale, died in 2014 at the age of ninety-six.)

For Those of Us Who Attended Howe Grade School:

Here's a June 1953 photo of four of the Howe "boys"--now all gone! Sweet memories!

Martin Stoesser, Bruce Brenden, Roger Golemen & David Hewitt.

A Video from Ron Faanes:

Check out this video on YouTube about Excelsior Park:

Excelsior Amusement Park on Lake Minnetonka: (Click on blue lettering or do the following:) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIpnqzT42SE . Copy and Paste into your browser. If that doesn't work, type in Exelsior Amusement Park, 1970's, and you will find the link there.

It's followed by a short video on what's at the bottom of Lake Minnetonka. Who would have thought that they sunk boats in the lake on purpose! Remember our 9th Grade trip to Excelsior Park? I assume that all ninth graders did this!

Does anyone have or know how we can get additional copies of the Sagamore for classmates who are missing theirs?? Please let me know if you have any information!

Julia Ward Howe

While watching "A Capitol Fourth" on PBS last night, I was reminded how those of us who attended Howe Grade School learned to sing the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" (in part music) because the verses were written by Julia Ward Howe. How many remember this?? We know--due to its religious nature--that current Howe students probably don't learn the song, but we all loved singing it! Do today's students know what "part music" is?? Hmmmmmm! We learned so much, way back when!!

Battle Hymn of the Republic

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:His truth is marching on.

I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps,
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps:His day is marching on.

DO YOU HAVE PHOTOS, MEMORIES. OR ?? TO SHARE WITH ALL OF US?! PLEASE ADD SOMETHING TO OUR WEBSITE!! Or Send me things, and I will scan and add them!

Would you like copies of our RHS Standards?? Ron Laugen sent his to Cathy Maloney Bailey. When she is finished reading them, she would like to pass them on to someone else. Please let me or Cathy know if you are interested.

From Pat Kennedy:

I think my fellow Teddies will get a kick out of this--"Teddy Roosevelt Gets Knocked Out".

MINNEAPOLIS – Hiawatha Community School is celebrating its 100th birthday — help celebrate the centennial! Travel back in time with students singing songs from the decades, enjoy fun carnival games and eat delicious local fare.

Built in 1916, Hiawatha maximizes individual student potential through the use of technology, differentiation, critical thinking and high expectations within a nurturing and diverse community of learners. It was recently named a School of Excellence by the Minnesota Elementary School Principals’ Association. This prestigious honor was awarded for the school’s commitment to 21st-century teaching and learning.

Hiawatha Community School 4201 42nd Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55406

For those of us who attended either Hiawatha or Howe, here is the latest on the schools: Hiawatha Community School is located within a culturally diverse, urban community. Pre-K-2nd grade are housed at the Hiawatha Campus and 3rd-5th grade are housed at the Howe Campus. The two campuses are about six blocks apart.

A bigThank You to all of our classmates who so kindly donated money to our class luncheon! It is so helpful in off-setting the cost of mailing, door prizes, etc., etc. Your generosity is truly appreciated!

Our luncheon was an awesome event, attended by the group listed below (if I forgot you, please let me know)! The food was delicious and the rains held off until everyone headed for home.

Our tables beheld beautiful arrangements of prairie grasses picked and designed by Cathy Maloney Bailey. These were awarded to classmates as door prizes, along with bottles of wine selected by Hal Rogers, gift cards and more.

I have posted the photos that Ron Faanes and Ron Starkey--our photographers extraordinaire!-- took for us, in addition to photos that Bonnie Moline Sjoberg took. Sorry that I have not added names to all of the photos yet--still feel like I am in a catch-up mode since returning from the Twin Cities!! It is my priority to get them labeled within the week! I will need your help in identifying classmates and their spouses/partners!

Thanks to those who attended! Please mark September 2019 on your calendars for our "60th" Reunion. Here's a "savings plan" for all: put a jar, container, etc. on your kitchen counter, and every week drop in a dollar. By 2019, you will have enough money for our reunion luncheon, plus some!

We look forward to seeing many of you in 2019!!

Additional Reunion Luncheon Photos: If you took photos and would like me to add them to the Reunion Photo section, please send them to me in a jpg format, and I will post them.

Is Your Yearbook Photo on Your Profile??

Please check and see if your photo is on your "Profile". If you did not have a photo in the yearbook, please send me a senior photo, military photo, or a high-school-era photo. I will attach those photos to your "Profile" on the website. Thanks so much!!

Update Your Profile on our Website:

If you have time, please update your "Profile" on our website. Rather than saying "retired", could you tell us what you did/are doing in your work life? Where did you go to school, get your training, etc., etc. It would be fun to see how many paths went the same direction and what paths were divergent. We are an impressive group in so many ways and in so many fields of endeavor, so it would be awesome to hear more from you!

After I mailed Gail's "Hall of Fame" plaque to her, Gail's husband,Bharat Patankar in India, posted this on Facebook:

My love of life Dr. Gail Omvedt is recently (September 2016) got inducted to the Hall of Fame of her highschool...... Roosevelt Highschool in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. This is for her outstanding academic work and her social work for oppressed people. I congratulate her and I express my feelings about her work. I am proud of dearest Gail.

Roosevelt Hall of Fame Nominations for 2020:

1.) You may download Hall of Fame guidelines and a downloadable nomination form at http://roosevelt.mpls.k12.mn.us/roosevelt_hall_of_fame.

2.) You make make your nomination directly on line at the RHS Foundation Website: http://roosevelthighfoundation.org/hof/hall-of-fame-nomination-form/

There will be another group selected for 2020, so you can continue to send in nominations for the future date.

Reunion Photos: (1/29/2015)

Ron Starkey's and Ron Faanes' Reunion photos are under the heading: "Roosevelt 1959 - 2014 Reunion Photos", on the left-hand side of the page. I have added names to the photos--primarily where there are close-ups of classmates. I have not included the names of spouses/friends who were not classmates. Unfortunately, there are people I can't identify--how sad is that??!!-- so please do not be offended if I have not identified you, but do let me know which picture you are in so I can add your name. Thanks so much! (patti_lt@hotmail.com)

Directory Updates:

Let me know if you need any updates about our classmates--addresses, phone numbers, etc., etc. The list is too long to keep adding to it on the website. It turns out we all do a whole lot of movin'!!​

Yearbook Photos:

All yearbook photos are now on our individual "Profiles". In case you've forgotten how we looked 50+ years ago, just type in a name and check out the photos. In addition, the full page yearbook photo pages can be found by clicking the words "Yearbook Photos" on the left-hand side of the Home Page.

RHS Logo Hats, Etc.: If you are interested in ordering the hats, visors, towels, sweatshirts with the RHS embroidered logo, information can be found on the left-hand side of the page under: "RHS 1959 Embrodered Hats, etc.".

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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Memories…..brought to you by Ron Faanes:

1950's version of an E-Mail...

I have no idea who put this together, but it is wonderful!!

Long ago and far away,

In a land that time forgot,Before the days of Dylan,

Or the dawn of Camelot.There lived a race of innocents,

And they were you and me,

For Ike was in the White House

In that land where we were born,Where navels were for oranges,

We longed for love and romance,

And waited for our Prince,Eddie Fisher married Liz,

And no one's seen him since.

We danced to 'Little Darlin',

And sang to 'Stagger Lee'And cried for Buddy Holly

In the Land That Made Me, Me.

Only girls wore earrings then,

And 3 was one too many,And only boys wore flat-top cuts,

Except for Jean McKinney.

And only in our wildest dreams

Did we expect to seeA boy named George with Lipstick,

In the Land That Made Me, Me.

We fell for Frankie Avalon,

Annette was oh, so nice,And when they made a movie,

They never made it twice.

We didn't have a Star Trek Five,

Or Psycho Two and Three,Or Rocky-Rambo Twenty

In the Land That Made Me, Me.

Miss Kitty had a heart of gold,

And Chester had a limp,And Reagan was a Democrat

Whose co-star was a chimp.

We had a Mr. Wizard,

But not a Mr. T,And Oprah couldn't talk yet,

In the Land That Made Me, Me.

We had our share of heroes,

We never thought they'd go,At least not Bobby Darin,

Or Marilyn Monroe.For youth was still eternal,

And life was yet to be,And Elvis was forever

In the Land That Made Me, Me.

We'd never seen the rock band

That was Grateful to be Dead,And Airplanes weren't named Jefferson,

And Zeppelins were not Led

And Beatles lived in gardens then,

And Monkees lived in trees,Madonna was Mary

In the Land That Made Me, Me.

We'd never heard of microwaves,

Or telephones in cars,And babies might be bottle-fed,

But they were not grown in jars.

And pumping iron got wrinkles out,

And 'gay' meant fancy-free,And dorms were never co-Ed

In the Land That Made Me, Me.

We hadn't seen enough of jets

To talk about the lag,And microchips were what was left

At the bottom of the bag.

And hardware was a box of nails,

And bytes came from a flea,And rocket ships were fiction

In the Land That Made Me, Me.

T-Birds came with portholes,

And side shows came with freaks,And bathing suits came big enough

To cover both your cheeks.

And Coke came just in bottles,

And skirts below the knee,And Castro came to power

We had no Crest with Fluoride,

We had no Hill Street Blues,We had no patterned pantyhose

Or Lipton herbal teaOr prime-time ads for those dysfunctions

In the Land That Made Me, Me.

There were no golden arches,

No Perrier to chill,And fish were not called Wanda,

And cats were not called Bill.

And middle-aged was 35

And old was forty-three,And ancient were our parents

In the Land That Made Me, Me.

But all things have a season,

Or so we've heard them say,And now instead of Maybelline

We swear by Retin-A.They send us invitations

To join AARP,We've come a long way, baby,

From the Land That Made Me, Me.

So now we face a brave new world

In slightly larger jeans,And wonder why they're using

Smaller print in magazinesAnd we tell our children's children

Of the way it used to be,Long ago and far away

In the Land That Made Me, Me.

The Fifty’s, great time in history,Hope you enjoyed this read as much as I did.

•

Gail with her husband, Bharat Patankar | Amey Mansabdar

From TheWeek.In Magazine in India:

Gail Omvedt, 75

Country of birth: USA

Place of residence: Kasegaon village near Pune

Profession: sociologist, activist

There are love stories. And then, there are Gail Omvedt and Bharat Patankar (67). Theirs is the kind of story that would have made a perfect script for an art movie of the 80s.

A young PhD researcher on the Black Panther movement in the US, Gail came to India to study the similar non-Brahmanical movement here. Shortly after landing in Mumbai, she was directed to Kasegaon near Pune, to meet Indumati Patankar, a noted dalit leader. No one knew then that four years later, Gail would become her daughter-in-law.

Those were exciting times, a time of political energy in the country. Back in Mumbai, Gail met Indumati’s son, Bharat, a doctor who had decided to give up his MD course in gynaecology, just short of graduation, to concentrate on social work in 1972. It was a year of drought, and the earnest doctor felt the displaced people needed his help to make use of employee guarantee schemes. Gail, too, was slowly blurring the lines between research and social work. Their paths crisscrossed and an unlikely romance blossomed.

They had a Vedic marriage, something Bharat, a dalit activist, was not too happy with. But the Emergency was on, and as he was underground, a court marriage was out of the question. They did not want to wait either, for Gail had decided to become Indian, and marriage to an Indian would expedite the paperwork. In 1982, Gail became an Indian on paper; she was Indian in spirit long before.

Over the years, she has become an authority on India’s social movements, a respected speaker and an author. She has written around ten books, he has eight major books and 50 booklets. The Songs of Tukoba, a translation of 17th century bhakti poet Tukaram, is a favourite, the only one they have collaborated on. They now want to work together on a book on the bhakti way of life.

After marriage, Gail decided to set up home with her mother-in-law in Kasegaon. She still lives in the same house; her mother-in-law is now 91. Indumati gave her an Indian name, Shalaka, which means lightning. But she is Gail (gift of God) for most. Moving from the US to a metro in India is understandable, but shifting to a village? “It was no big deal, definitely better than living in the low-income localities in Bombay where Bharat worked. Also, all of the US is not New York. In Minnesota, where I grew up, I had a fairly country-girl upbringing,” says Gail.

Different as always, they decided to educate their daughter Prachi in the Marathi medium. “It didn’t hurt her in any way, she is in the US now, co-founder of the South Asian Solidarity Initiative,” says Gail.

Gail is outspoken, never mincing her words in critiquing the country’s developmental policies even when faced with threats to her life. After social activists Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare were murdered, the couple, too, received threats. “We aren’t afraid, when you oppose power you always face threat. My parents were revolutionaries in their time. But we lodged a complaint with the police,” says Bharat. The couple have police protection, now, with constables always on duty around them.

My dream for India: “India should become more of what it is—an open vibrant society not afraid of change. I am not sure what path the country is on right now. It seems a very uncertain one.”

Bharat and Gail n their youth:

•

Have You Moved??

With so many of our classmates moving you may need to send in a change of address to continue to receive the Roosevelt TODAY newsletter. Following is how to change or correct an address or add a new alum or ask anything about the database

Christol Kjome at 612-668-4839 or
Christol.Kjome@mpls.k12.mn.us

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Babe Daniels (Ervin Danielsen)

Father of Sharon Danielsen

Many of us had parents who graduated from Roosevelt, as did Sharon's father. Here is a link to an interesting article written about Babe Daniels, a boxer in the 1930's.

If you have similar articles, tales of interest, please send them so others can enjoy!

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Photos:

If you have photos that you would like us to add to the "Gallery", please send them to me as "Attachments", and I will add them to the website (patti_lt@hotmail.com). Any grade school, junior high or high school moments that you think others would enjoy would be an awesome addition to the site.

Of course, you can add any of your personal and family photos to your "Profile", so others can see what's happening in your life!

This is an incredible website with the history of our schools, churches, drive-ins and much, much more! Please check it out, you will learn so much about our South Minneapolis neighborhoods! Do you remember two airplane crashes--one in 1956 (military) and one in 1961 (private)--near the Morris Park Elementary School??!! Have you ever heard of Morris Park??!! It is a well researched website, so do take advantage of all it has to offer. This will take you to the drive-ins--scroll to the bottom of the page for all the other links!

Here's another website with great photos of our era (sent to us by Ron Faanes) [just type into your browser]:

www.flickr.com/photos/blast_of_the_past/

Joyce (Eklund) Erickson invites you to visit her website: www.theonlinebibleschool.net. More information on her profile on our website.

My suggestion: just ignore the negative comments posted by viewers!! Yes, there could be things from the sixties and seventies in these photos, but it's the memories that count! Have fun!! (For some reason when you go to our website, there is an "s" after the "http". In order to see this video, simply cut and paste it to your browser and eliminate the "s". I'm clueless to why this is the case!)

Another verson of "Lost in the Fifties" from Kenny Breffle (easier to download):

Just in time for the Reunion! Classmates can stop by RHS and enjoy the new sculpture! The "Connections Gallery" was dedicated on August 20th, 2014, as part of a program welcoming back students, parents and staff.

Rendering of the Connections Gallery

Randy Walker Arts

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Riverview Theater

Bruce Moberg sent this link with photos of the Riverview Theater. It appears that there has been a major remodel! It looks awesome! Check out the photos at:

Roosevelt Hall of Fame

Stanley L. Paulson, Class of 1959

The Roosevelt Foundation is pleased to announce the first group of 22 to be inducted into the Roosevelt Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame recognizes the accomplishments of Roosevelt High School (RHS) graduates, and former RHS staff and contributors who have brought pride and inspiration to Roosevelt, the community, and society.

Hall of Fame members were inducted on September 27, 2014. The inaugural banquet took place at the Airport Hilton. Over 210 honorees, families, and friends dined and saluted the honorees. Twenty-one of the 22 either attended or were represented by family at the induction ceremony and banquet, and each spoke briefly. Most emphasized the importance of their high school, teachers, and those who helped them become who they are. All said they were very honored.

Stanley L. Paulson, Class of 1959, was inducted. See photo of plaque on Stan's Profile page and under "Roosevelt Memories - RHS & Beyond". (I could not get it to attach here.)

•

CLASSMATE NEWS:

Jim Alinder:

Since Jim Alinder has not joined our website, please see what he is up to at:

There are other classmates with websites posted on their profiles on our website--Tom Hall and Roland Willits. Have I forgotten you?? Please let me know, and I will post your name for others to check out.

Type her name in your browser, and you will see what she's been up to these last fifty-five years on behalf of the poor in India. In addition, Gail has been selected at an RHS Hall of Fame Inductee for September 2016 induction.

Bob Grenier:

Bob said he is happy to receive mail via the U.S. Post Office rather than phone calls or e-mail. But, if you would like to check up on his life since RHS, just type "Robert Grenier, Poet" in your browser, and you will find much information on his life as a renowned poet, complete with photos.

Check on both Gail and Bob when you have time!

Also, tell us what you've been up to on your "Profile" page! It's nice to know what's happened in all of these years since our RHS days.